Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-02-04
A Remarkable Man.

More than thirty years ago Rev. Leon
idas Rosser. then in charge of the Meth
odist church at Lynchburg, was leading a
revival in Fincastle. which awakened a
deep interest in the people of that town
aud for miles around. For several weeks
this eloquent preacher had preached night
and day, until nature gave away and could
no longer bear the strain put upon it.
One beautiful Sabbath morning when
the cid Methodist Church at Fincastle
was crowded to it's utmost with peDitents
and their friends, and the yard surround
ing the church. filled with Interested peo-
pie; the windows darkened with eXpec
tants, and after the opening hymn had
been sung, chapter read and prayer
delivered. Mr.. Rosser informed the i'm
mense congregation chat owing to his en-
feebled condition he had invited his COL
league to fill the pulpit fer few days and
until he could recover his strength. A
universal murmur of disapprObation
escaped from the mouths and hearts of the
congregation, TO whom Mr.. Rosser had
bscome greatly endeared. Several hundred
converts were arranged on the front seals.
they too murmured dissatisfaction, but
the situation could not be changed.
A young man with long d)wing black
hair arose III the pulpit and approached
the desk in an awkward manner; his face
was pale with excitement, his voice sepul-
chral as he took his text. He fully appre
clated the situation, but was inspired by
It's delicacy. AT the col luslon Of an hour :
sermon the immense audience rose as one
man, crowded around the altar, ano
warmly grasping the hand of the young
and eloquent minister, With fearful eyes
beseeched him TO go on VITA his remarks
and openly thanked God that He had SEN
50 capable an assistant into their midst.
The young man was imklJIed to furni 81
the notes or mabuscrpt of his SCI mon Tor
ly remember his reply: II never make
notes aud never write my sermons"
For some days the young preacher re-
NAMED and did effective work III the the,
prolific field, and there live today Ia
BotetourG men and womsu happily con-
yerted to God under the ILLUSTRATIONS vi
that theu devoted MAJ.
Last week we were in Washington
Accompanying a party of friends into thu
! handsome drinking establishment Of Geo
W. Driver, on Pennsylvania avenue, we
were introduced co man OF tall frame
aud commanding appearance. whose looks
indicated that he had seen better days
HIS hair was gray. his form bent with age
| one eye was blind, while his clothing ant
general appearance Indicated hard times
| The polite manner of the stranger, con-
srasted with his general appearance, struck
| US with with peculiar force. We asked nix
name. He gave it to US.
Tina. man standing in the bar room was
| George W Carter, whose life has been sc
varied and checkered as to begin with the
| pulpit and end in a drinking saloon We
| fear.
Requesting che party of gentlemen tt
| hear us, we told the circumstance thai
connected one of the auditors with thu
great revival in Fincastle of 1858. George
W Carter recognized the pictur, we drew
aud, as he gaz9d UPON it, his N emory re-
called the days-the happy days-wher
his life had not been blurred by sad and
eventful association with man engaged in
the demoralizing work of politics.
The eloquent preacher of 1858 and TIT
man before US was one and the Same
George w. Carter, a man endowed by Ma
ture with those rare gifts of genius which
make men great. or. Wnen subverted, rem
! der them the most pitiable of all men.
| Mr.. Carter's remarkable talents ant
abilities enable him to live by writing
| speeches on intricate subjects for members
of Congress- who lacking the brain, uss
that possessed by Carter, to appear before
the country as able representatives, vel
informed on public questions.
burg Free Lance.